JOYS AND SORROWS °~
Baptism
The Christian Church in its early days administered baptism only at Easter, so the
Eucharist on Easter morning at Bridge formed the ideal setting for the baptism of
GEORGE WILLIAM JOHN NEEDHAM, 3 Bridge Down.
Obituaries
The sudden death of ALBERT WILLIAM (ALAN) CHARLTON, 2 Bridgeford
Way on 25th March came as a terrible blow to Joan, the family and Alan's many
friends and acquaintances. Born in East Ham Alan pursued a naval career that
included war service in the North Africa Campaign and on convoy support ships.
At the cessation of hostilities he moved to Chatham, working at the Naval
Dockyard. He and Joan came to Bridge in the sixties, where they enjoyed a
Tiippy, fulfilled retirement.
The yet more sudden death of Churchwarden JOAN CARPENTER in the
early hours of Easter morning removed from Patrixboume community and church
its most fervent champion.
Joan was Patrixbourne and her impact on the community was tremendous,
considering what a quiet, reserved person she was. Her life touched all sorts and
conditions of people, far more than those who almost filled the Church for her
funeral on l9th April. Her body lies in the churchyard, in a spot she chose for
herself alongside the graves of her parents. Most of her last day on earth was
spent in the church, as Andrea Nicholson records.
On many occasions in the last few months Joan had appeared tired, but on
Holy Saturday morning she was animated and happy and gave no cause
for concern. She had been planning for Easter for the past few Weeks. As
in previous years, we had discussed which flowers would be ready; this
year the spring was late, so we would have daffodils but no fruit blossom.
When I arrived at the church, Joan's meticulous attention to detail
had ensured that all the flowers had arrived and their display in the church
was being attended to by her many willing helpers. The Easter lilies were
already in place in their vases. Joan helped me to find containers for the
windows which we filled with foliage and daffodils. When all was
finished throughout the church, she surveyed the results - all was to her
satisfaction. After the bleakness of Lent, the sight of the church full of
flowers again, filled her with delight.
I then helped Joan fix the ‘four seasons‘ frontal to the altar and
again she told me how the plain panels were made from the silk from Mrs
7